The Cowboy Way

The Cowboy Way is a tribute to the classic image of the cowboy, old-time lore and its influence on popular culture:

• Cowboys can trace their roots back to the Spanish vaquero traditions of Mexico

• Arbuckle’s was the most popular brand of coffee following the Civil War and became a favorite in the Old West; their Ariosa Blend was so popular that most cowboys probably didn’t know there was any other brand

• The chuckwagon, often called “the original Meals on Wheels,” was invented by Texas rancher Charles Goodnight in 1866 when he adapted an army-surplus wagon to serve as a mobile kitchen

• The first model of the “cowboy hat,” the open-crowned “Boss of the Plains,” was made by Stetson in 1865

• A cowboy’s saddle was his most treasured possession; the saying “he’s sold his saddle” meant a cowboy was completely broke, and “he’s sacked his saddle” meant that he’d died

• Rodeos, the ultimate showcase of cowboy riding skills, date back to antiquity and are the present-day embodiment of the “real” cowboy

• Two regions lay claim to a “Cowboy Trail”; Alberta’s stretches 456 miles (735 km) from Cardston to Mayerthorpe, and Nebraska’s is 321 miles (571 km) from Chadron to Norfolk

• The iconic western song “Home on the Range” is considered the unofficial anthem of the American West.